<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001567619-21-015272.txt : 20210812
<SEC-HEADER>0001567619-21-015272.hdr.sgml : 20210812
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210812163915
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001567619-21-015272
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210810
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210812
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210812

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HENNESSY BRIAN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001165100

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-36423
		FILM NUMBER:		211168234

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7250 REDWOOD BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94945

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HENNESSEY BRIAN A
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020114

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HENNESSY ADVISORS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001145255
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INVESTMENT ADVICE [6282]
		IRS NUMBER:				680176227
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7250 REDWOOD BLVD.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94945
		BUSINESS PHONE:		415-899-1555

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7250 REDWOOD BLVD.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94945
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-08-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001145255</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HENNESSY ADVISORS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HNNA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001165100</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HENNESSY BRIAN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7250 REDWOOD BLVD., SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NOVATO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94945</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.9766</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>277071</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-08-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.2424</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>278471</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12655</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse's IRA</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price in Column 4 is a weighted average price. The prices actually received ranged from $9.9396 to $10.00. The reporting person has provided to the issuer, and will provide to any security holder of the issuer, or the SEC staff, upon request, information regarding the number of shares purchased at each price within the range for all transactions reported in this Form 4 utilizing an average weighted price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price in Column 4 is a weighted average price. The prices actually received ranged from $10.00 to $10.30. The reporting person has provided to the issuer, and will provide to any security holder of the issuer, or the SEC staff, upon request, information regarding the number of shares purchased at each price within the range for all transactions reported in this Form 4 utilizing an average weighted price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Peter D. Fetzer, Attorney-in-Fact for Brian A. Hennessy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
